The $25K in property includes sports equipment from Live Oak
High School
Morgan Hill – Police recovered a cache of stolen property, including softball equipment believed to be stolen from the Live Oak High softball team, after searching a home at 16645 Del Monte Ave., Tuesday.
The resident of the house, John B. Kitlas, 44, of Morgan Hill, was not at home when officers served the search warrant. Kitlas is considered a suspect in at least five local burglaries and one burglary in Santa Clara, said MHPD Lt. Joe Sampson.
The property recovered at the Del Monte residence corresponded with property reported stolen in the burglaries. Included in the property were construction tools, painting equipment, power saws and granite and marble stone slabs police believe came from Turlock and Berkeley.
“We are always pleased to recover property,” Sampson said Friday. “And these are expensive items – power washers, tools used to cut granite and marble.”
Officers also found softball equipment at the residence. They believe it could be property that was stolen recently from Community Park and from a sports shed at Live Oak High School.
“There were two recent burglaries at the school’s sports sheds, and we noticed the equipment said ‘Live Oak softball,’ so we believed the equipment came from those burglaries as well as the Community Park burglary, but we’re still putting the pieces together,” Sampson said.
The investigation continues as officers attempt to contact as many victims as possible. Sampson said officers also want to talk to Kitlas about the property and his possible involvement in the burglaries.
As of Friday afternoon, Sampson said, Kitlas had not been located; he is believed to be in Florida.
The search warrant was obtained after the department received a tip from Kitlas’ ex-wife, Sampson added.
He could face charges of burglary and possession of stolen property, punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 and up to three years in jail.
Anyone with information about the burglaries may contact the police department at (408) 779-2101. Anyone who has been the victim of a burglary involving any of the items mentioned is asked to contact Detective Gary Cupps at (408) 776-7323 during the hours of 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202.
